Tag Archives: MCP president Dr Lazarus Chakwera

Warm welcome for JB, Chakwera in Karonga

2019-04-11 Maravi Post Author

By Arnold Mnelemba

Business was brought to a halt following a multitude of people that flocked to Karonga Freedom park as Malawi’s most trusted leader, Dr. Joyce Banda and Malawi Congress Party, (MCP) President Dr. Lazarus Chakwera stormed the lake shore and boarder district of Karonga on Tuesday.

As evident in the pictures, the boarder district was no longer the same as supporters and followers of the three parties MCP, PP as well as Freedom Party clad in party colours painted entire place with orange, green, black and red.

The former Malawi President and People’s Party leader Dr Joyce Banda challenged government to fight corruption decisively.

Speaking at the jam parked Karonga Freedom Park, Banda said it should be incumbent upon government to address the corruption issue holistically.

She has since called upon government to investigate several cases whose files are just gathering dust on the shelves at the capital.

“I have questions to the Ministers who held a press briefing in Lilongwe. What is happening with the progress on the deaths of our children with albinism, Where are the autopsy results of late Luke Buleya, where is the market and who is buying the bones of our children?”

“We were told of a CCTV camera where it was said that I was seen receiving money from someone else at state house, we are still waiting for that footage, where is the CCTV?” Wondered Banda.

The calm and composed Banda asked the ministers who held a press briefing last week to hold another press conference to inform Malawians what they are doing with rapidly increasing cases of corruption in the country.

“With 30billion kwacha, I arrested 72people, how many people have been arrested following the 230 forensic audit report? People are forced to buy medicine and slinges at Karonga hospital, people are sleeping on empty stomach in our hospitals, yet, 16 billion went missing at Central Medical Stores Trust, when is government arresting the one who mismanaged the money?” Asked Banda.

She cited several other cases that include 53billion kwacha immigration case, 54 billion kwacha OPC scam, ADMARC K65billion, K58billion kwacha at ESCOM,

Ministry of Agriculture K7billion kwacha, K16billion kwacha at TEVETA and the K414million kwacha at Malawi embassies as cases that require investigations and another press conference.

MCP President Lazarus Chakwera echoed Banda’s assertions saying some important jobs have costed government due to corruption.

He said some contractors provide substandard services beacuse they conive with ruling party gurus.

“Look at the newly constructed Karonga-Songwe boarder road, in a space of less than 6 months, we have 123 potholes. This must stop,” said Chakwera.

Chakwera said money saved from corrupt activities will be used to provide effective public service.

“We will improve the economy, revamp the agriculture sector and achieve social economic transformation in a short period of time given mandate to rule the country,” said Chakwera.

Opinion, Top News

Of MCP-Chakwera leadership to transform lakeshore districts into cities; Its another game change

2019-03-28 Maravi Post Author

Of MCP-Chakwera leadership to transform lakeshore districts into cities; Its another game change

By Bvulumende Gerrard Mzaza Nkhata

With others estimating that over 30 million new jobs are set to be generated by Africa’s Tourism by 2028, Malawi should set it self to get a good number of these jobs. Chakwera’s plans will archive that and more. (Currently, We have millions of people across the region working in tourism. In 2014, Africa recorded US $43.6 billion in revenue from the industry and 65.3 million international tourists visited the continent.).

The goal to make Malawi a tourism hub can easily be achieved. With Malawi already branded as a tourism destination, all what we have been waiting for is a game changer who will make the right move.

The Malawi Congress Party (MCP) President has said it will transform all districts along lake Malawi into cities. Speaking at the launch of the party’s campaign, MCP president Dr Lazarus Chakwera said the level of development in lake-shore areas is worrisome.

“These districts are supposed to be made areas of attraction like they are naturally. People’s lives are supposed to improve in these areas that is why we are going to change the districts for the better. When we develop these cities government will also improve its revenue collection,” he said.

Let Bvulumende give you heads up: The robust plans by Chakwera will also mean that above the many jobs created, the market, holiday destinations will also see many Malawians and other Africans as consumers. This will also make Malawi a business hub. But that’s a discussion for another day.

Malawi’s wildlife, arts, culture and Agriculture will also benefit a lot from these cities.

It is now a norm for the United Transformation Movement (UTM) to present Malawi Congress Party’s (MCP) ideologies as its own.

Recently UTM presented the universal subsidy program as one of its on during a rally in Chileka, Blantyre.

The party’s president; Saulos Chilima said the current fertiliser subsidy program being run by the DPP is not benefiting Malawians. “We will introduce the universal subsidy program which will enable all Malawians to access farm inputs.

Disclaimer: Views expressed in this article are not necessarily the views of the Publisher or the Editor of Maravi Post

Politics

MCP First Lady Monica Chakwera in skills empowerment project

2018-11-22 Maravi Post Author

By Leo Mkhuwala

Malawi’s First Lady in waiting, Madam Monica Chakwera who is also wife to Malawi Congress Party (MCP) President, has embarked on an effective poverty reduction tailoring project in Lilongwe North-West constituency.

The long term project that is geared to see many people, including the youth empowered, has already equipped 14 people of which 13 are women.

The first graduation ceremony that took place last Monday in the area’s Zokoto Primary School, was such a hope igniting moment as the first crop of graduants will bid farewell to pangs of poverty and be able to live in self reliance.

Gracing the occasion was wife to the MCP First
Vice President, Abida Sidik Mia who encouraged the women graduants to work hard by utilizing their skills to the fullest in order to achieve desirable results.

In solidarity towards the common goal, Mia also promised the women in the area that, she would bring in more skills empowerment projects.

The project which aims at providing equal opportunities to all, was launched in July this year, and is spread into all 7 zones of the constituency.

The constituency whose legislature is the MCP President Dr. Lazarus Chakwera, is among huge constituencies in the country, with 55, 000 registered voters.

Politics

Making a strong case for MCP

2018-08-17 Patience Mandowa 1 Comment

Making a strong case for MCP…

If you ask Muluzi why Malawians should not vote MCP into power, he will cite the cruelty of the MCP as his reasons. He was with the MCP as both the Secretary General and Commander of the Malawi Young Pioneer, but he will try as much as possible to disassociate himself with that era. And these are the same reasons that even Peter Mutharika will give you. Other than that they have no any comparable reasons they can give you to show that their parties have outplayed MCP in terms of development.

MCP Was cruel but which MCP?

MCP ruled during the time of cold war between USSR and USA. During this period the two superpowers were fighting for allies. The western countries paid a blind eye to human right abuses in allied states as long as the states were on their side. Cold war ended, that is one reason that contributed to change in Malawi. Countries that abuse human rights are today sanctioned and punished by World bodies, look at Burma. Malawi today, is a signatory to many human rights bodies such as African Union, UNO; there is no regime that shall ever violate human rights without facing the consequences. It is therefore a big lie to say that when MCP attains power it shall be cruel again, a big fallacy to mislead the uneducated people!

Furthermore, those who were cruel in MCP such as Hertherwick Ntaba, Nicholas Dausi and Bakili Muluzi have joined other parties. Was Lazarus Chakwera part of this cruel team? Was Sidik Mia part of this team? A very big No! It is therefore a fallacy to use past events of MCP to say that it shall repeat them in this human right era, this is why Germany did not win the world cup. The belief that Germany won the cup therefore they will win it in Russia misled many people.

Legacy is ruining development in Malawi

This is one area that has ruined Malawi. It is embroiled in envy and jealousy. The belief that if we extend the facilities of Kamuzu we are promoting his legacy; has retard infrastructure expansion in Malawi. Look at the University of Malawi. Kamuzu built the structures so that whoever wants to extend them has enough room. See how Chancellor College was built, it can accommodate another storey structure over it. Look at the land that Bunda has. But all the parties that came after Kamuzu believe that doing so will be promoting the legacy of Kamuzu. They have gone to get Chinese help and built their own Universities. At the end, they use the same equipment of Polytechnic to teach students at MUST. If all parties that came after Kamuzu had simply swallowed their pride and extend UNIMA structures; by now UNIMA would have been admitting 20,000 to 30,000 students per year. Look, they stopped housing students, feeding them, but intake still remains at 5000. Only MCP will preserve this legacy because it is the party that is associated with these structures. The killing of ADMARC is political than economic. ADMARC is seen as a legacy of Kamuzu and therefore must vanish. Only MCP will sustain ADMARC. Anything that has the legacy of Kamuzu no matter how important it is, no political party in Malawi will maintain it. They will rather build their own stadium and called it Peter Mutharika stadium than maintaining Kamuzu Stadium. A sad mentality indeed. Only MCP will extend and maintain these facilities.

Arrogance and MCP bitter lesson

MCP ruled Malawi with impunity, never did it crossed its mind that power can be lost. It happened in 1994. UDF attained power and Muluzi was invisible. That MCP will finish like curtains he reminded us on daily basis, until he lost power to DPP. DPP lost power for two years and took it back. Today, DPP believes it is invisible. When you hear statements like, “I shall make sure that MCP should not return to power” by Mutharika, this is like he is saying; it is not Malawians who decide a government but him. Such arrogance is made worse when they look at the voting pattern. As long as we are from South, we shall always rule, they believe. MCP is the only party in Malawi that lost power through an election. The UDF believes it lost power because of Muluzi’s miscaculation. MCP has learnt a big lesson that power can be lost, there are no chances that MCP once it gets power it shall be arrogant to Malawians again. More than twenty years in opposition has taught MCP a bitter lesson that power can be lost. Political parties that have not experienced this will be arrogant and attain power through lies because to them; power is coming from the Southern region! A sad mentality indeed, one that shall never develop Malawi.

Chilima ‘The New Bakili Muluzi’

Chilima reminds me of the early 1992 when Muluzi was campaigning. Everything that Muluzi said was biblical truth. We were young and when Muluzi said Kamuzu stole K91 billion, we could think how each Malawian can get K1million from that money. Muluzi roasted Kamuzu in everything, he even alleged that Kamuzu was wasting money in building the new Reserve Bank in Blantyre. Muluzi then promised life, from jobs to better roads, fertilizer, shoes; all lies. Corruption was even worse in Muluzi era that the Danish Embassy had seen it all and packed and go. Chilima must have studied Muluzi. Here is a man who is promising almost everything. Let’s critically look at this; Chilima has promised one million jobs, fine no problem. At the same time Chilima will ease road congestion by introducing trams. Are these trams not going to take away minibus business and in the process lead to job losses in the minibus industry? Are we really critically looking at these manifestos? Chilima is another Bakili Muluzi who when you corner them with critical questions they argue, “We cannot reveal more because our opponents will steal our ideas” Malonda a mphaka otsegula mukafika ku nyumba. This is another Bakili in the making. Parties that promise everything are simply power hungry and Muluzi can testify to this!

Corruption

It is easy to see a party that will be corrupt when it gets into power. Experience is there with the UDF. Parties that are flashy and pompous are either getting more donations or falling into credits. Such parties when they become into power have many people to pay back. This is how corruption arise. Parties that engage in Alliances are even worse, too many people to please. MCP is not flashy, it has structures, it gets funding from government and it is not in any Alliance. MCP has few people to rely on and will not be corrupt, to please who?

Fresh ideas bring new opportunities

Someone wanted to rule for one term. He was so arrogant to the point of telling civil servants demanding salary increase to go and join the private sector, he knew he was only there for one term. Upon realizing that he will contest for second term again he becomes humble and beg the same civil servants their loyalty. What happens when such a person gets a second term in which he knows that age wise and constitutionally are his last term? Will he care?

This is not in any case the views of the editor or Maravipost.

Business, Politics

Malawi opposition parties attack Banks and MRA

2017-12-21 Special Absalom

Malawi opposition political parties have attacked commercial banks in the country and Malawi Revenue Authority (MRA) for killing small and medium enterprises (SMEs) in the nation with huge interests.

The parties are Malawi Congress Party (MCP), United Transformation Party (UTP), New Labour Party (NLP), People’s Progressive Movement (PPM), United Independent Party (UIP) and Malawi Forum for Unity and Development (Mafunde) disclosed this at Grace Bandawe Conference Centre in Blantyre during a press conference.

They further accused Malawi Revenue Authority for being biased towards “well connected” individuals.

In their statement, the parties say the country’s commercial banks and MRA are mostly favouring those in power at the expense of most of the SMEs which is a setback to the country’s development.

“Malawi SMEs are often fleeced by the MRA. They pay duties and taxes they do not owe. They are hounded for back taxes if they are seen to be political critics or supporters of opposition parties,” said Newton Kambala, president of UTP.

He further said there have been cases where MRA has been used to harass some SMEs whose owners were seen as government critics.

He added: “Recently, a town councilor defected to the ruling party after a tax audit by the MRA. It was the only way he could avoid paying taxes to MRA. Big businesses which are owned by non-Malawians get their container loads of goods in duty free or on minimal amounts (taxes) just because they financially support the ruling party.”

Taking his turn, Mafunde President George Nnesa, said the Reserve Bank of Malawi (RBM) has powers to regulate the conduct of financial institutions, a development that would benefit MSEs. However, he said that was not the case at the moment hence SMEs continue to suffer.

On his part, President for NLP Sam Mpasu wondered on how commercial banks come up with charges for the services they render.

“An SME which asks for a bank statement is charged K1900 per page. Can any business bureau charge for A4 paper (printing)at K1900 per page?”He queried.

MCP was represented at the briefing by its second vice president, Macdonald Lombola.

Human Rights, Politics

Police blames Gonapamuhanya cultural festival organizing committee on the fracas that killed Zambia chief and injured others

2017-10-03 Special Absalom

Rumphi Police Station this week distanced itself from the fracas that happened during the Gonapamhanya celebrations event that took place on Saturday at Chikulamayembe Headquarters.

Rumphi Police Station Officer-In-Charge Denis Banda said the fracas could have been controlled, if the event organizers involved the law enforcers.

“We were not invited to the celebrations, but the presence of the Minister at the event made us go, and provide security. We are supposed to be involved in organizing such events, in order to avoid such scenarios,” Banda said.

The incident started when the leader of opposition in parliament Dr. Lazarus Chakwera arrived, and some people, alleged to be Democratic Progressive Party members, threw stones at the Malawi Congress Party President’s car.

It took the intervention of police to put the violence to rest, but only after Paramount Chief Chikulamayembe assigned a car where Chakwera sought refuge.

But DPP said in a statement, released Sunday, that it had learnt with shock the violent incidences that took place at the event.

“Our preliminary findings are that these most unfortunate incidences,
were properly planned and executed by supporters of the opposition Malawi Congress Party (MCP) and their allies.
“We have noted with great concern that the MCP supporters were in possession of some unauthorized dangerous weapons such as pangas, knives and teargas that were put to use during the fracas that ensued,” reads the statement in part.

The DPP says it wonders how the MCP supporters were able to acquire such hazardous weapons and put them to use at a peaceful public event.

“Some DPP supporters were mercilessly beaten up by the opposition hooligans and at least one official vehicle of the DPP, was heavily smashed by the stone throwing MCP supporters,” reads the statement signed by DPP publicity secretary, Francis Kasaila.

Chairperson of the organizing committee, Group Village Headman Chikalamba said his committee told the people at the function to remove their party colours, but only opposition party members obliged, with DPP members maintaining their party regalia.

“We told them not to wear party colours at this cultural event but it seems the ruling party did not oblige as this brought tension and destroyed the goal of the event,” Chikalamba said.

MCP President however, accused the ruling party for the violence.

Present at the event were Minister of Home Affairs and Internal Security, Grace Obama Chiuma, Dr. Lazarus Chakwera, Alliance for Democracy President Enock Chihana and former Vice-President Khumbo Kachali.

The incident is reported to have claimed the life of a Zambian traditional leader, Nyaunthali who was a delegate at the function.

Politics

MCP infighting: Kabwira says “I am still the spokesperson”

2017-03-10 Lloyd M’bwana 3 Comments

Suspended Malawi Congress Party (MCP) spokesperson Jessie Kabwira said he remained the party’s mouth piece, challenging the suspension which was engineered by the party’s president Lazarus Chakwera.

Kabwira made the remarks when she was addressing a political rally she organized in her own constituency, Salima North West.

Kabwira challenged that there is no one in the party who can fire her, arguing she can only be suspended at the party’s convention.

“I am still the MCP spokesperson, and no one can fire me apart from the party’s members at the convention,” said Kabwira.

However, MCP acting spokesperson Eisenhower Mkaka reminded Kabwira that it was Chakwera who appointed her and not at the convention. Continue reading MCP infighting: Kabwira says “I am still the spokesperson” →

Politics

Chakwera pleads with disgruntled district chairmen not to hold convention; says time to build the party

2017-02-25 Maravi Post correspondent 1 Comment

LILONGWE-(MaraviPost)-The main opposition Malawi Congress Party (MCP) President Lazarus Chakwera has on Friday pleaded with the disgruntled former district chairpersons of their plans to hold emergency convention saying its time to build the party ahead of 2019 tripartite elections.

The MCP President Chakwera who is also leader of Opposition in August House was responding to The Maravi Post question during a news conference at his office at Parliament in his formal reaction to President Peter Mutharika’s recent firing of the then Minister of Agriculture George Chaponda. Continue reading Chakwera pleads with disgruntled district chairmen not to hold convention; says time to build the party →

Regional, SADC

Chakwera demands Chaponda’s arrest; vows to revolt

2017-02-25 Maravi Post correspondent 1 Comment

LILONGWE-(MaraviPost)-The main opposition Malawi Congress Party (MCP) President Lazarus Chakwera has on Friday asked President Peter Mutharika to immediately direct law-enforcers in consultation with Speaker of National Assembly on procedures to arrest the fired Agriculture Minister George Chaponda.

The MCP President who is also leader of Opposition in August House went further demanding Mutharika to probe those named in both Presidential Commission and Parliamentary Joint Inquiries on Zambia-maize. Continue reading Chakwera demands Chaponda’s arrest; vows to revolt →

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